There are so many attributes of a place that can’t be seen from an airplane. The way the mountains majestically encircle the city. The desperation of the homeless begging for food near an upscale restaurant. Moss growing fat on a snowy mountain trail. The life-cycle of brine flies. Natural soft water in the morning. Living history. The architecture. The people.

I’ve never judged a place from 30,000 ft.

News articles, Facebook posts, and opinions are all like the view of a city from an airplane. While interesting or beautiful or inspiring, it’s a view from 30,000 ft. On the ground is the source material that’s been synthesized and interpreted and distilled, often with bias. Usually the real story is in the details. The source material. The architecture. The mountains. Sometimes truth is best discovered for yourself.

These photos from Salt Lake City remind me that perspective can and should shift often.

The inside of my nostrils were stained with the smell of fresh paint. The work of the day was done, and a quick sightseeing trip was in order after a day caged in the confines of newly sanded and painted walls (we were doing the painting).

It’s funny how when you’re not looking for something, the unexpected often appears. A friendly gesture, a random street performer that moves you, or in this case, the perfect combination of fresh air, lighting, and location.

Here’s what the afternoon at Serra Cross Park looked like. A simple reminder that openness can sometimes do more to move emotions or perspective than that which we anticipate, fight for, or attempt to earn. Sometimes it’s just there.

It was a surreal afternoon at the Raleigh-Durham airport today. I arrived for my flight a little earlier than normal to get a bite to eat.

My Uber driver was diverted by police to the lower arrivals area. When I stepped out of the car, I could hear the methodical protests of crowds on the level above me.

After snapping photos, I made my way to security. For a short time, no departing passengers were allowed to clear security. I asked a DHS officer what was going on, and he said the line had been stopped and they were awaiting instructions from a supervisor in order to proceed.

When the security line resumed operation, people were admitted one by one, and boarding passes were scrutinized by DHS officers.

All airport staff, DHS, protesters, and police were friendly, courteous, and polite.

I’ll continue to snap and post photos as I experience things like this in the future. The intent is not to persuade, but to inform. Just what I see and hear. Follow my posts in only the “politics” category by subscribing here

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On a cool December day in 2014, I did a quick search to find hiking trails within 5-10 miles of where I live in Texas. Since new experiences often take a little extra time, I had planned to be gone for a few hours. I figured I’d take a break, do some hiking, and work late into the evening to make up for my mid-afternoon excursion.

It took 10 minutes to get to the trail, another hour and change to walk the loop and take a few pictures, and 10 minutes to drive back. In all, I spent around an hour and a half. On my way home, I felt relaxed, energized, and more creative.

Every day we make thousands of choices, many of which are influenced by our perception of time. Whether it’s a trip to the gym, a phone call to a friend, or cooking dinner instead of eating out, I’ve learned that I inflate my perception of time to accommodate excuses. How long does that phone call or meal prep really take? I bet you’d be surprised. Looking for a restaurant, traveling there, waiting for a table, eating, and leaving can take far more time than buying and cooking something from the grocery store.

I had planned to take three hours to go on a lunch-hour excursion. It ended up taking about as much time as a long lunch break. Now I regularly take my ‘lunch’ on a hike or bike trail. Train yourself to challenge your excuses. It’s freeing. It will inspire you. It will constantly remind you that you’re capable of doing more.

In 2015 I found myself scheduling a business trip to visit Nijmegen in the Netherlands. The best airport was Schiphol in Amsterdam, and so I began the optimal price and scheduling dance known by anyone who’s looked for airline tickets. I had two options. Save hundreds of dollars, arrive a couple days early, and work from a café in Amsterdam, or arrive on time — business as usual. I chose the former.

This photo was captured in the afternoon after a focused day of work at a local café in the middle of Amsterdam. The sun embraced me with an almost-overwhelming-brightness as I emerged from the dimly lit café. I had a slight caffeine jitter. Soul ignited. I got a rush of energy — the sort that comes from exploring something beautiful and new. The type of energy that makes you forget about jetlag and the frustrations of an intense work day. No tourist attractions. I simply had a chance to walk through a beautiful place and experience it, because I had a logical excuse to work from Amsterdam for the day.

Look for logical excuses to experience something new every day, whether it’s a client meeting at a new café, working from a different city, or skipping Starbucks in favor of something eclectic and different on the go. Force yourself to be inspired.